Aeromarine Merlin
| Merlin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Homebuilt aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Aeromarine LSA |
| Introduction | 2016 |
| Status | In production (2016) |
| Number built | One |
| Unit cost |
US$34,000 (kit, 2016) |
The Aeromarine Merlin is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Czech Aircraft Works and is produced by Aeromarine LSA of South Lakeland Airport, Florida, introduced at the Sport Aviation Expo in 2016. The aircraft is supplied as a kit, for amateur construction.[1][2][3]
Design and development
The aircraft features a cantilever high-wing, a single-seat enclosed cabin, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1][2][3]
The aircraft is made from aluminum sheet, with the engine cowling made from composite material. The design employs access doors that hinge vertically and a conventional low tail. Its 25.6 ft (7.8 m) span wing mounts flaps. The cabin width is 27.5 in (70 cm). The standard engine used is the 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 twin-cylinder two-stroke powerplant.[1][2][3][4]
The manufacturer estimates the construction time from the supplied kit as two weeks at the factory completion center.[3]
While initially offered as an amateur-built kit, future development plans include an electric powered version and a light-sport aircraft version that will be sold ready-to-fly.[1][2][3]
Variants
- Merlin-PSA
- Initial "personal sport aircraft" version powered by a Rotax 582 two-stroke engine for the US Experimental Amateur-Built category.
Specifications (Merlin-PSA)
Data from Manufacturer[4]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Length: 17 ft 5 in (5.31 m)
- Wingspan: 25 ft 7 in (7.80 m)
- Height: 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
- Empty weight: 396 lb (180 kg)
- Gross weight: 660 lb (299 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke aircraft engine, 64 hp (48 kW)
- Propellers: 3-bladed ground adjustable
Performance
- Cruise speed: 112 mph (97 kn; 180 km/h)
- Stall speed: 38 mph (33 kn; 61 km/h) flaps down
- Never exceed speed: 150 mph (130 kn; 241 km/h)
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Sport Aviation Expo: A Lively Start". avweb.com. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 "Merlin PSA Offers A First: Gas Or Electric Power". avweb.com. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Video: Merlin PSA — The $34,000 LSA". avweb.com. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
- 1 2 "Merlin PSA Performance & Specs". Aeromarine LSA. Retrieved 22 January 2016.